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Ethicist "Lying Employee" Column Kicks Up a Storm: Our Readers Talk Back!

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Readers deliver a veritable flood of responses—mostly critical—to The Ethicist column about how to handle a lying employee. My column two weeks back concerned some advice that The Ethicist (a newspaper columnist) gave concerning an employee who claimed she needed leave because she was suffering from cancer. Her […]

3rd Circuit: For-profit Cannot Avoid Contraceptive Mandate Based on Religion Objections

For-profit, secular corporations cannot argue that they are exercising religious beliefs to avoid the contraceptive coverage mandate under health care reform, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled July 26. Such entities are “artificial beings” created to make money and cannot exercise religion,” which is an inherently “human” right,” the 3rd Circuit opined. Accordingly, […]

Bulletin Item: Another Retailer Sued for Allegedly Requiring Clothing Purchases

Chico’s FAS is defending itself against a lawsuit brought by a former employee who claims she was required to purchase Chico clothing while working for the retailer. Chico’s says it merely encourages employees to wear its clothing, providing them with discounts on their purchases. This is just the latest in a string of similar lawsuits […]

Connecticut employers need to be ready for new social media law

by John Herrington Connecticut employers need to prepare for a new law taking effect October 1 limiting how they can access social media accounts belonging to employees and applicants. The new law prohibits an employer from: Requesting or requiring employees or applicants to provide a username, password, or any other authentication means for accessing a […]

Governor Vetoes Employer-Unfriendly Employment Bills

This month, the real news is about what employment-related bills Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t sign. The most notable bill struck down by the Governor is S.B. 242, which would have made it unlawful for employers to discriminate against an employee based on the employee’s primary language, or to ban employees from speaking any language in […]

Employment Law Tip: Direct Deposit—Don’t Force It

Direct payroll deposit can be a real timesaver for employers and employees alike. But did you know that California law prohibits employers from requiring employees to use direct deposit for their paychecks? Specifically, Labor Code Section 213 makes it clear that employers can use direct deposit, but only when the employee voluntarily authorizes it. Additional […]

Voters in four states to decide on minimum wage hikes

Voters in four states—Alaska, Arkansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota—will decide on minimum wage increases when they go to the polls on November 4, and Illinois voters will make their opinion on the issue known in a nonbinding vote. Information on state ballot measures from Ballotpedia indicates: Voters will decide whether to increase Alaska’s minimum wage from […]